Questions, questions .... and thanks Secret Santa!

Determined as I was not to post an overtly christmassy image I just couldn't resist this festive sign which has been tied to a lamp post at the bottom of our street. No idea who did it, but it's a really nice thought and I guess sums up the general feel of our neighbourhood - 'nice'.

It's a mix of students, elderly people who have lived here for donkeys years and then people like us who've been here 10 years or so. We may not all know each others names but people say hello to each other, pat each others pets, we know that our cats go visiting and recently a black cat has taken to visiting us now and again.

I've been reflecting on some of the questions that have cropped up in conversation with friends and colleagues over this last week so thought I'd share them with fellow blippers. Rest assured that drivel has been discussed also:

1) what was the first major world event you remembered? The funeral of Winston Churchill cropped up fairly often, along with things like the IRA chucking a bomb down Downing Street.

2) first childhood memory? mine was sitting on my grandmother's lap and screaming my head off when her false teeth fell out. Everyone seemed to think their first memory was of a time when they were about 3 years old

3) how can you put a price on a piece of artwork such as a photo / sculpture / painting? No-one had any idea

4) Why exactly do we burn an effigy of Guy Fawkes on November 5th? Why exactly did he want to burn the Houses of Parliament? If he were alive today would we celebrate or condemn him? We could look up the answers on Wikipedia but we preferred to have the moral debate on that one. We all agreed that it's a rather gruesome tradition - we don't celebrate witches being burned, do we?

5) phrases like 'the voluntary sector' and 'not-for-profit organisation' are just daft and misleading, so what helpful alternative phrases are there? 'non-statutory sector, definitely, but we were all stumped on the other one. Profit is fine and necessary but the burning question is: what happens to the profit?

6) looking out of a window at a clear blue sky, seeing no people, how do you know whether it is a warm sky or a cold sky? everyone agreed that this is a question that constantly puzzles us and those with kids dread being asked it.

7) Prince Philip is 90-something and has just had heart surgery. Is it likely that he will die in 2012? Unanimous: let's hope not because the calendar is just too full what with the Jubilee of Liz, his wife, and the Olympics. Would be a bit much to try and fit in a big do like his funeral. And if Thatcher died as well that would be really mad.

Okay, that's my contribution to this most magical day. Off to listen to Kate Bush, drink Bovril from my Little Miss Sunshine mug, nibble on the lovely chocolate I received from my Secret Blip Santa and stroke the beautiful notebook that was also in the parcel. Clearly someone knows I have a thing for stationery. Thank you Secret Santa who lives oop north.

Have a good day everyone x